Lisa Regina

Lisa Regina is an actress, educator and an award winning filmmaker. On April 2, 2005, her personal life and professional career were shattered as a result of a domestic violence assault by her then fiancé, who was a celebrity actor.

Lisa’s assault was highly publicized, with media focus on the ‘celebrity’ instead of the subject matter, domestic violence. As a result, Lisa learned of the need to raise awareness and started to use her performance skills to educate others on DV. As an international speaker, Lisa has performed in Zurich, Switzerland at the World YWCA Women’s Summit and the YWCA National Conference in Washington, D.C. Lisa’s speaking engagements include universities and high schools across the country.

In addition to her speaking engagements, Lisa created a writing program for those whose lives have been touched by domestic violence with staged performances. As a professional of the arts, Lisa was always committed to creating projects from concept, writing, directing and producing that shed light on the stories that often go unheard. In 2001, she wrote, directed and produced an educational film, “Kenny,” which won the Manhattan Global Film Festival and a Humanitarian Award. As an actress for over 25 years, Lisa is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Her Film/TV credits include The Sopranos, The Bakery, The Tournament and national commercial campaigns for Delta Sky Miles and Macy’s.

Following her assault, Lisa’s physical and emotional injuries led her to utilize her artistic and writing skills as a way to heal. Through writing she found personal strength and it inspired her to create a domestic violence program, A Write to Heal. As a writing program, Lisa shares with other women of domestic abuse the process of writing for healing.

In hearing the stories of the women participating in her writing program, Lisa has committed herself to educating the public and raising awareness about the crime of domestic violence. She views performance and public speaking as important and empowering educational tools. On July 13th, 2006, Lisa wrote, directed and produced the first staged performance of A Write to Heal in New York City. Following performances took place on March 16th, 2007, at Sterling High School as a community event in South Jersey. On July 8th 2007, Lisa staged the show’s second performance at The Culture Project in NYC SoHo district. The stage performance is a collection of monologues, songs and poetry emerging from and inspired by the true writings of survivors of domestic violence.

Originally, started as a grass roots writing group in the living room of Lisa’s NYC apartment with a small group of women, the program, A Write to Heal, has become a credited course through the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women. Lisa has been a featured speaker at DV events in New York City, including the tri-state area. Lisa works with the Victims Assist Services of Westchester County New York, speaking at the Westchester County Jail, White Plains and Tuckahoe High Schools. She has performed at “An Empty Place at the Table” with the YWCA, A Child’s View of Union County New Jersey, the Northern Westchester Shelter at PACE University, NY, through their STAR Program, as well as been a keynote speaker at various high-schools and communities throughout Long Island, NY and New Jersey. Currently, Lisa is collaborating with various domestic violence programs to introduce A Write to Heal throughout the country. As the Founder and Director of A Write to Heal, Lisa continues to educate others through writing, performance. Lisa’s goal is to continue to document and develop her journey into a TV series.